WILMINGTON — Margaret Maria Colon, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, unexpectedly passed away at her home in Wilmington, NC, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the age of 61. She was born on Friday, September 25, 1964, in Brooklyn, NY, to Confesor Colon and the late Margaret (Sotomayor) Colon. She lived a life filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.
She spent most of her years in New York and then various parts of Florida before settling in Jacksonville, NC to be closer to her daughter. She spent most of her career as a Dietary Aide at the Mayflower Nursing Home in Orlando, FL; her work was not just a job but an extension of her caring nature she had for others.
Family was the cornerstone of Margaret’s life. Her home was a warm and welcoming place where laughter, good food and love were always abundant. While her “rice and beans” were a family favorite, anything she cooked brought family and friends around the table.
In her spare time, you could often find Margaret playing games and scrolling on her I-pad or phone. Above all, she found immense joy in any activity that involved her grandchildren, most often watching movies together.
To know Margaret is to know she was a quiet and shy person by nature. As a single mother of 5 children, she was scrappy, resourceful and the epitome of selflessness, always willing to help anyone in need and working 3 jobs at times so her kids never went without. Her kids will fondly remember her playful spirit and mischievous phrase, “do you want to check the mail today?” an inside joke shared with her children when she wanted them to play hooky from school just so she could spend the day with them.
As the matriarch and rock to her children, she leaves behind her daughters, Joylene Arroyo (husband, Felix) of Camp Lejeune, NC and Jennifer Lopez of Wilmington, NC; and her sons, James Scott (significant other, Daniella McKenzie) of Daytona Beach, FL, Robert Scott of Ruskin, FL, and Michael Scott of Ashtabula, OH.
She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren- Felix, Nathaniel, Arianna, Aiden, Wesley, Robert and Clifton.
Her sister, Vivian Nieves of Brooklyn, NY; her brother, Michael Colon of Raleigh, NC, as well as her nieces and nephews, Amanda Colon, Michael Colon, Joanna Colon, Charlton Nieves and Christian Nieves will all miss her dearly.
In addition to her mother, she is preceded in death by her infant son, Wesley Scott.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date with details to be announced by her family.
Margaret Maria Colon may have left this world, but her spirit—full of love, laughter, and just the right amount of grit—will live on in the hearts of those who knew her.
